Published: May 11, 2008 11:22 pm      

Windber Scout designs project to boost awareness of disabled

WINDBER — It’s a big project for one person to take on, but 13-year-old Brianne Wagner is up for the challenge.

The eighth-grader at Windber Area Middle School currently is working toward her Silver Award – a community-based project that is the highest award a cadette Girl Scout can achieve.

For her project, Wagner decided to organize a disability and illness awareness fair to educate the public on what life is like for those who have a long-term disability or chronic illness.

The fair will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday in the auxiliary gymnasium at Windber High School. It’s free and open to the public.

Wagner said after tossing around some ideas, she chose this project because she feels there is a need in the community for a fair that delves into these topics.

“It’s been a lot of work,” Wagner, who is a member of Troop 910, said. “It feels good and I’m glad I can do this and help.”

Organizations such as the Arthritis Foundation, Blind Association and American Cancer Society will have booths. A handful of other health-based groups also will be on hand distributing information and answering questions.

Wagner has been in Scouting for nine years, and started the project last year by sending out letters asking for support and participation.

“I’ve spent a lot of time on this,” she said. “I have to spend 30 hours working on my project to get my Silver Award.”

Wagner is putting the final touches on her project and getting in touch with the organizations to make sure they are still planning on attending.

She encourages the public to come out to the fair and talk with the professionals.

“My goal is to have this reach a large group of people,” she said.

Wagner is the only member of her troop to be at this stage of receiving the Silver Award. She plans to become a senior Girl Scout next year, where she will begin work on receiving her Gold Award.